On the way to the auction venue, after listening to the attendant's explanation, Qi Han finally understood what this pre-auction warm-up was all about.
Although tonight was the annual large-scale auction, many auction participants arrived early. To prevent them from getting bored during the waiting process, Starlight Auction House would hold several auctions in advance as a special warm-up.
It was like having opening performances before some grand events.
And this was a spectacle unique to large-scale auctions.
These warm-up auctions were small in scale, even smaller than small-scale auctions, but there were many of them.
Starlight Auction House had twelve subsidiary venues and three main venues. The subsidiary venues were used for small-scale auctions on regular days, while the main venues were used for medium-scale auctions. As for large-scale auctions, the three main venues would be temporarily merged to form a larger venue.
And the pre-auction warm-up auctions before the large-scale auction were currently taking place in all twelve subsidiary venues simultaneously.
Even though each of the twelve auctions didn't match the scale of a small-scale auction individually, when combined, it was considered quite impressive.
There weren't any significant differences in scale between the different warm-up auctions, but the items for auction varied. Whether one could find something they liked upon entering a subsidiary venue was also a matter of luck.
This was also the unique charm of the pre-auction warm-up; perhaps some people would find the item they needed up for auction, while others might not be as lucky and enter a venue without anything they were interested in.
In a sense, it was like a blind box.
At least Qi Han felt that it wasn't much different from a blind box.
Without much consideration, Qi Han chose the No. 8 pre-auction warm-up. Guided by the attendant, he entered the venue.
In China on Earth, eight is considered an auspicious number, but there's no such saying in the Douluo Continent. Therefore, the attendance at the No. 8 pre-auction warm-up wasn't particularly high. The sparsely filled venue had plenty of empty seats between neighboring attendees.
Qi Han looked around and chose a relatively spacious area to sit down. He casually shook the number plate handed to him by the attendant and looked towards the auctioneer in the center of the venue.
The auctioneer was enthusiastically introducing a special ore from Gengxin City, the place famed as the Metal City. Qi Han didn't understand it very well, but from the auctioneer's description, it seemed to be a good piece of ore.
After the introduction, this piece of ore started bidding at a starting price of 100 Gold Coins and soared all the way up to a final price of 450 Gold Coins.
Watching the enthusiastic and excited expressions of the auction participants around him, Qi Han felt a bit bored.
Could it be that all the items in this subsidiary venue are metal ores?
That shouldn't be the case.
Soon, a somewhat rare natural treasure followed, fetching a price of seven hundred Gold Coins. Following that was a Tang Sect hidden weapon.
It was the familiar [Fine Rain Needles].
Fine Rain Needles were purchasable, weren't they? How come they were being auctioned off?
Qi Han silently commented, watching as the Fine Rain Needles, priced at a mere 150 Gold Coins, were auctioned off at a starting price of 150 Gold Coins and sold for 320 Gold Coins. He couldn't help but marvel at how these people were both foolish and wealthy.
Unbeknownst to Qi Han, this was quite normal. Although Tang Sect hidden weapons were openly priced, not everyone could purchase them; there was a qualification review process. Those without the qualifications naturally had to resort to such means to acquire hidden weapons.
Moreover, it was only the lowest-grade hidden weapons like the Fine Rain Needles that Tang Sect turned a blind eye to. If more advanced hidden weapons were to leak out for resale, such as the famous Tang Sect weapon, the Zhuge Divine Crossbow, Tang Sect would likely investigate the source and revoke the purchasing qualifications.
After the Fine Rain Needles were sold, the auctioneer's voice once again became spirited. "Ladies and gentlemen, let's take a look at the next item up for auction!"
As the words fell, a maid in a bright long dress walked onto the stage carrying an object covered with red cloth.
The red cloth blocked the view of all the auction participants, only revealing a rough outline from the surface, resembling a rectangular shape.
What is this? Another mineral?
Qi Han casually yawned, then suddenly froze.
Did my eyes deceive me?
Did the object under the red cloth just move?
This scene was noticed by quite a few people, and murmurs broke out in the venue for a moment.
Without keeping the auction participants curious for too long, the auctioneer began introducing, "Some of you may have heard of a Spirit beast called the Misty Cloud Cat. It is known for its extremely fast speed and is one of the Spirit beasts frequently hunted by agility attack system Spirit masters. However, due to its top-tier racial bloodline, this Spirit beast is extremely difficult to capture."
Upon hearing this, many auction participants seemed to guess what it was.
The auctioneer was introducing a Spirit beast for this item?
Could it be that under the red cloth is a Misty Cloud Cat?
At this point, the object under the red cloth indeed resembled a cage.
Qi Han's thoughts were similar to those of the other auction participants as he watched the object still trembling under the red cloth, his brow furrowing slightly.
Can Spirit beasts be directly sold like this?
Seeing the gazes of the audience below, the auctioneer's tone shifted, "You guessed right, but not entirely. Indeed, under this red cloth is a cat, but it's different from a normal Misty Cloud Cat."
With that, the auctioneer gestured with his eyes for the maid to lift the red cloth.
As the red cloth was lifted, indeed, underneath was a cage, and a kitten was trapped inside, curled up in fear, emitting faint and frightened cries.
"The Misty Cloud Cat, apart from the tips of its ears and its paws, presents a dark silver color on all other parts, almost black fur. However, this cat has a completely different fur color from the Misty Cloud Cat. As you can see, this cat is covered in interlocking patterns of dark silver and light silver-gray. Its body size is also somewhat different, seeming to have no relation to the Misty Cloud Cat. However!"
The auctioneer's mouth curved into a smile, "This cat was found in the nest of a Misty Cloud Cat, proving that it is definitely related to the Misty Cloud Cat. According to the appraisal of the auction house appraiser, this cat may be a Spirit beast mutated from a normal Misty Cloud Cat. Everyone knows how rare mutated Spirit beasts are, comparable to the probability of humans mutating their martial Spirits!"
"This cat has just been born and has not even reached the strength of a 10 Years old Spirit beast, but as a mutated Spirit beast, its potential is extraordinary!"
"All right, let's not waste any more time. Let the bidding begin! For such a never-before-seen mutated Misty Cloud Cat cub, the starting price is 1000 Gold Coins!"
Qi Han subconsciously rubbed his eyes. The kitten in the cage happened to turn its head to look at him at that moment, then hastily turned away in panic.
But just one glance in their eyes already made Qi Han's expression turn strange.
Are you telling me this is a mutated Misty Cloud Cat?
Isn't this just a Maine Coon cat???
"System, is this a Maine Coon cat?"
[System detecting]
[Detection complete. The appearance of this Spirit beast cub is indeed a mutation of a Misty Cloud Cat. Its resemblance to a Maine Coon cat is a coincidence, with a 90% similarity. Its innate talent is extremely strong. It is recommended that the host purchase it.]
Ah, I see.
Then let's buy it!
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